Ten teams are confirmed for the 2027 World Cup: hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe, plus the eight next-best sides in the ODI rankings at the 30 September 2026 cut-off: India, Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, England, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
The headline absentees are West Indies, champions in 1975 and 1979, who missed the 2023 tournament too, and Ireland. Both will play the World Cup Qualifier.
The Qualifier: 26 February – 21 March 2027
Ten teams will play in Namibia and South Africa. West Indies, Ireland, the Netherlands, Scotland and the USA are confirmed. Other places come through the ICC's qualifying pathway.
What's at stake
- Winner: straight into the World Cup group stage.
- 2nd, 3rd and 4th: into the Super Series in Windhoek (2–6 October 2027), where only the top team advances to the groups.
So finishing in the top four at the Qualifier isn't enough on its own. Three of those four teams then face a second qualifying round at the World Cup itself.
What about Namibia?
Namibia are co-hosts but not ICC Full Members, so they don't qualify automatically. Windhoek hosts six matches, including the entire Super Series. A home World Cup appearance would be a landmark, but they have to earn it.
Could the USA make history?
The United States have never played at a 50-over World Cup. They beat Pakistan at the 2024 T20 World Cup, and they're confirmed in the Qualifier.
Follow the contenders on our teams page.